Storms sweep across Texas and the South, dumping up to 7 inches of rain

NBC's Dylan Dreyer takes a look at a weather system bringing heavy rains to portions of the country as well as river flooding in the Midwest.

By Erin McClam and Daniel Arkin, NBC News

A day after heavy downpours flooded Texas and parts of the South – dumping as much as 7 inches of rain in some areas – waters were receding in Houston on Sunday morning, officials said.

“It’s a nice, beautiful and very green day today – not a cloud in the sky,” said Houston Fire Department spokesman Sgt. Jay Evans.

There were no reports of death or injuries, according to Evans. He added that evacuation trucks arrayed in the southwest and southeast borders of the city were not used during the onslaught of rainwater Saturday.

On Saturday, Houston firefighters conducted at least 150 rescues of motorists who accidentally drove into high water and became trapped in their vehicles, Evans said.

In Tennessee, animals reportedly escaped from a shelter after it was slammed by severe weather.

An unknown number of animals were on the loose in Fayette County, Tenn., early Sunday, after Fayette County Animal Rescue was damaged in a tumultuous storm, NBC’s WMCTV.com reported.

The line of weekend storms stretched from the Texas-Mexico border through Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky. The rough weather was caused by the collision of a cold front and warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico.

Cody Duty / AP

Cars are stranded in southwest Houston, which was flooded after an afternoon downpour Saturday.